US standoff with Iran deepens and strait remains closed after Trump rejects latest proposal

The US and Iran remain locked in a deepening standoff as President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, which included concessions on its nuclear program. Two regional officials told The Associated Press that Iran offered to dilute some of its highly enriched uranium and transport the rest to a third country, with Russia previously offering to take it. However, Trump demanded the complete removal of nuclear material, calling Iran’s response ‘TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!’ and rejecting any formalization of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz before negotiations advance. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit point for global oil and gas exports, has sent fuel prices surging and destabilized markets. Trump is set to visit China this week to urge President Xi Jinping to pressure Iran, as Beijing remains the largest buyer of Iranian sanctioned crude oil. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the conflict is ‘not over,’ emphasizing that the removal of Iran’s nuclear material remains a critical goal. If negotiations fail, Netanyahu stated that Israel and the US could reengage militarily, though Iran’s theocratic government has so far resisted economic and military pressures. Iran’s proposal also sought US recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, effectively formalizing its control over the waterway. The US and Israel have already targeted high-ranking Iranian officials, including the supreme leader, in early strikes, inflicting heavy economic damage while Iran maintains its grip on power. Netanyahu suggested the current Iranian government’s days are numbered but acknowledged the conflict could drag on. The stalled diplomacy and recent exchanges of fire risk pushing the Middle East back into open warfare, exacerbating the global energy crisis. With Trump insisting on a major rollback of Iran’s nuclear activities before lifting sanctions, the two sides remain far apart on key issues. The standoff highlights the fragile balance in the region, where Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade continue to dominate negotiations.